A HAT-TRICK of tries from Tomi Lewis helped Jersey Reds to another five point win at home to Hartpury.
Sean O’Connor, Brendan Owen and Ben Woollett also scored in 36-22 victory but Reds had to dig in to get the result.
Having gone behind to early penalty kick from Hartpury’s Tommy Matthews, Lewis showed Hartpury’s defence a clean pair heels that led to two tries and when O’Connor added a third with 17 minutes played it looked like Jersey were in for a stroll in the sunshine.
But Hartpury had other ideas and pulled two tries back through Sam Lewis and Jack Bates.
Lewis laid down his third try of the match latching on to Woollett’s low kick forward into the corner but Bates was given the easiest of tries and game was put in the balance with a half-time score of 24-22 to Reds.
Owen scored an early try after the restart and when Woollett scored with 15 minutes still to play, Reds got the breathing space they needed to see out the match and maintain the pressure on leaders Ealing Trailfinders, 41-21 winners at Nottingham, at the top of Championship table.
Full report in Monday’s JEP.
